MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration agents in Minnesota after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday.

Homan said about 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal agents deployed in Minnesota will be recalled. Immigration operations have disrupted the Twin Cities and intensified protests, especially since the killing of protester Alex Pretti, the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis.

“Given this unprecedented increase in collaboration, and as a result of the need for fewer public safety officers to do this work and a safer environment, I am announcing that, effective immediately, we will reduce to 700 people starting today – 700 law enforcement officers,” Homan said during a news conference.

Homan said last week that federal officials could reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota, but only if state and local officials cooperate. His comments came after President Donald Trump appeared to indicate his willingness to ease tensions in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.

Homan pushed for jails to alert ICE about inmates who could be deported, saying that transferring such inmates to the agency is safer because it means fewer agents have to be searching for people in the country illegally.

The White House has long attributed problems arresting criminal immigrants to places known as sanctuary jurisdictions, a term generally applied to state and local governments that limit police cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security.

Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4, 2026.
Border Czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4, 2026.

Charly Triballeau/News via Getty Images

When asked, Homan said he believes the ICE operation in Minnesota has been a success.

“Yes, I just listed a group of people that we took off the streets of the Twin Cities, so I think it’s very effective as far as public safety goes,” Homan said. “Was it a perfect operation? No. No. We created a unified chain of command to make sure everyone is on the same page. And make sure we follow the rules. I don’t think anyone purposely didn’t do something they should have done.”

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News writer Corey Williams in Detroit contributed.